Variable-rate metering mechanism.



G. H. MYRICK.

VARIABLE RATE METERING MECHANISM. APPUcATioN FILED 1AN.10,1913.

1,158,709. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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VARIABLE RATE METERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. l0. |913. 1,158,709.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GEoEGE H. HYRICK, 0E CHICAGO,

COMPANY, 0E CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A SSIGNOR TO CHICAGO ELECTRIC METER ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0FILLINOIS.

VARIAELE-RATE METEEING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed January 10, 1913. Serial No. 741,232.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. MYRICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, aveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Variable-Rate MeteringMechanism, of which the following 1s a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to variable rate metering mechanism and itsparticular object is to provide mechanism, driven from one of therotating elements of an electricity orother meter nof ordinary type,adapted to record in dollars and cents the commercial value ofelectricity, water, gas, or other iuid passing through the meter. 1n thesale of electrical energy it is quite common to make a different.charge, either greater or` smaller, after` a predetermined amount ofelectricity has been consumed, than is charged before said predeterminedamount has been consumed. The device of my invention is designed torecord a first amount of electricity meter with which it is associatedatone rate, and for excess amounts at a second rate, so as to meet therequirements .of the double y charge system.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device of my invention. Fig.2 is a rear elevational.view of the same, the back plate being largelybroken away to show the mechanism within. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of themechanism. Fig. 4 is a view thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is afragmentary cross sectional view taken on'the line -pof Fig. 3 andlooking in the direc-- tion indicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 is afragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig` 3 andlooking in the direction indicated by the-arrows; and. Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic representation of an arrangement wherein the vcharge forinte` grated electricity above a certain amount is higher than thecharge for the first predetermined quantity.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the severalviews.

Referring to Figs. 1 to-6 inclusive, it will passed through the y .gear20 of the reduction train,-

be seen that the device of my invention Comprises three plates and 9Vbeing separated by' posts 11, and plates 9 and 10 being separated byposts 12.

shaft 13 bears in plates 8 and 9 and extends through plate 8 to the rearof the device, where it it provided-with a crank 14, adapted to'engage asuitable locking dog or other device (not shown) operatively connectedwith a meter mechanism driven by the electricity the charge for which isto be integrated. The shaft 13 is provided with a pinion 15, whichpinion meshes with a gear 17, mounted upon a shaft 18, bearing in plates8 and 9. The gear 17 constitutes one element of a chain of reductiongearing comprising the pinion 19, also mounted upon shaft 18, and a gear20, with which the pinion 19 meshes. The gear 20 is mounted upon a shaft20a bearing in plates 8 and 9, as shown. The gear 20 meshes with thegear 21 loosely mounted upon a shaft 22, said shaft 22 bearing in plates8 and 9, as illustrated. Rigidly mounted upon shaft 22, is'a ratchetwheel 23. A pawl 24 pivoted to the gear 21 is normally held inengagement I with thev ratchet wheel 23, by means of a spring 25, all ofwhich is clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

When the parts are in the position illustrated in the drawings, theloosely mountedJ gear 21 meshes' with a gear 26, mounted upon ashiftable shaft 27. As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 5, the shaft 27bears in plate 8, extends through a slot in plate 9 and bears in a slot28 in plate 10. Mounted upon the shaft 27 with the gear 26, is a largergear 28', adapted to engage a gear 29, mounted upon the shaft 22. Owingto the gear ratios, it will be readily seen that with the several partsof my device in the positions shown in the drawings, the speed ofrotation imparted to gear 21 by its coacting is increased whentransmitted to shaft 22, through the train comprising gears 26 and 28.

The movable shaft 27 is provided with a pinion 30, normally meshing withthe notched gear 31, mounted upon a movable shaft 32. The gear 31 isprovided with a notch 31, and a guide arm 31h, as shown. As most clearlyillustrated in Fig. 5, the shaft 32 has one end thereof bearing in plate8, extends through a slot inplate 9, and bearsin a slot 32a in plate 10.A spring 33,

8, 9 and 10, the plates 8 supported by the plate 10, normally holds themovable shaft 32 in the position illustrated in the drawings. l A spring34, supported by plate 9, normally tends to move the shaft 27 and pinion30 toward notched gear 3l. The shaft 32 is provided with a milled button35, which maybe readily grasped to shift the shaft 32 against thetension of spring 33. This button is located in the front of the device,as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

arm thereof as said commutator rotates.

. other.

upon which rides a brush The brush contact 38, is connected by means ofa conductor 41 With a local source of current 42, which is in turnconnected by means of a conductor 43, With one terminal of the solenoid44.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a shaft 45 as its endsbearing in plates 8 and-1,0 and extends through plate 9. This shaft isprovided With a ratchet Wheel 46, adapted to be engaged by the pawl 47,of the solenoid core 48. A spring 49 normally tends to retain the coreand paWl in the positions shown in Fig. 2. Mounted upon the shaft 45 isa special commutator device comprising-'ratchet Wheels 5() and 5l, ofconductive and insulating material respectively. The ratchet Wheels areso-disposed that the teeth thereof are staggered relatively to each Theconductive commutator member 50 is provided with a sleeve conductor 52,contact 53, carried by an i'nsulated'post 54 supportcd by the plate 9.This post 54 Air electrically con neeted by conductor 55 with the secondterminal of the solenoid 44. Supported by suitable insulated posts 56and 57, are brush contacts 58 and 59. Each of these brush contacts is ofa width substantially equal to the thickness of the said commutator.'device. As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2, brush contact 58 is inengagement with one of the teeth ot' the insulation ratchet of thecoinrnutator when brush 59 is in engagement with the conductive ratchet,and vice versa. The posts 56 and 57 arev electrically connected,respectively, with the brushes 40 and 3f), which ride upon thecommutator 36.

Mounted upon the shaft/t5, is a gear 60, which meshes with a gear 6l.,mounted upon the shaft 62, of a cents or units numeral wheel 64. Mounted4respectively upon shafts 65, 66

and 67 are the tens, hundreds,

and thousands numeral wheels indicated at 68, 69 and 70, respectively.Carry over gearing is provided for imparting to each numeral wheel ofhigher order one-tenth of a revolution for each complete revolution ofthe adjacent numeral wheel of next lower order. Said carry over gearingcomprises carry over disks 71, and idler pinions 71,- said disks andpinions coperating in a well known manner to eii'ect the necessary carryover. Due to the gearing through which the notched gear 31 is drivenwhen the several parts are in the position shown, it will be seen thatthe rotation of the gear 3l is directly proportional to the amount ofelectricity passed through the4 meter with which the device isassociated. In the use of the device, the amount of electricity to bccharged forat a certain rate is detern'nned by the position of the notch31n of the gear 31, relatively to pinion 30. T his may be readilyaccomplished by providing a graduated scale upon the front face of adisk 35 mounted upon the shaft 32, said graduated scale being visiblethrough an aperture 35h in the plate 10.

After the notched gear has been duly set and electricity is passedthrough the meter with which the device is associated, the operation isas follows: Rotation of the crank 14 and shaft 13 is transmitted fromreduction gears 18 and 20, to loosely mounted gear 21, thence throughgears 26 and 28', to gear 29, mounted upon shaft 22. Due to the gearratios, shaft 22 and ratchet wheel 23 rotate faster than loosely mountedgear 21; therefore pawl 24 slips from tooth to tooth as the ratchetwheel moves ahead of the gear 2l. As the shaft 22 is rotated, theconductor arm of commutator 36 is alternately brought into electricalengagement with brush contacts 39 and 40. Assuming thecommutator to bein the position shown and rotating in a clockwise direction, theconductor arm of the commutator iirst engages the brush contact 39,whereupon the circuit for the solenoid is completed through brush 59,the commutator ratchet 50, and brush The solenoid thereupon is energizedand the pawl 47 is brought into engagement with its coacting ratchetadvancing the said commutator devices one step and shifting thepositions of the brushes 58 and 59 relatively to the insulation andconductor portions of the said commutator devices. When the conductorarm of commutator 36 rotates one-half of the revolution more the aboveoperation is repeated except that the solenoid circuit is this timeclosed through brushes 40 and 58. Rotation of the shaft 45 is impartedto the numeral wheels by means of the gear 60 carried thereby Whichmeshes with the gear 61 on the shaft of the units numeral Wheel. Thegear ratios of the gear trains just mentioned are such that the amountof movement of the numeral wheels is suiicient to so position thenumeral wheels4 that the amount represented through the suitableopenings in plate: 10 is the amount to be charged for the electricityconsumed.

As the operation above set forth takes place the gear 31` is looselyrotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4,

until the notch 31a thereof comes into register With its driving pinion30. lVhen the notch 31a comes into register with the pinion 30, spring34 moves the shaft 27 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,whereupon gears 26 and 28 are Withdrawn from engagement with theircoacting gears. Due to the gear ratios the notch 31a does not come intoregister with pinion 30 untila certain predetermined amount of electricenergy has been consumed. The gear 31 is preferably provided with an arm31b disposed adjacent the notch 31a to prevent the notch 31a from beingcarried past the pinion 30 when the gear 31 is rotated. After the shaft27 has moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, motiontransmitted A fromv crank 14 to gear 21 through the intervening reducingtrain is transmitted to shaft 22 through pawl 24, and its coactingratchet wheel 23. Due to the fact that the rotation of the gear 21 isimparted to shaft 22 direct,

instead of through an increasing train, ac-` tuations of the solenoidare less frequent and so the amounts indicated by the numeral wheels bya certair quantity of electricity(rv passing through the meter is lessthan would be-indicated by the numeral wheels by the same amount of`electricity with the increasing gears introduced between gear 21 and theshaft 22. After the machine has been .operating on the lower rate and itis desirable to have it again operate on the higher rate, the shiftableshaft 32 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Gear31 is then rotated toV position corresponding tothe amount ofelectricity to be integrated at the high rate. The shaft 32 is thenreleased, whereupon the shafts 32 and 27 assume the position illustratedin the drawings and bring the increasing gearing between loosely mountedgear 21 and its i shaft 22.

As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2, the solenoid core 48 is notchedat 72, in order that the shaft 32 may be shifted for the resettingoperation.

In Fig. 7, is diagrammatically illustrated a device so constructed thatthe charge for a predetermined amount of electricity is indicated by thenumeral wheels at a comparatively low rate, the rate being increasedafter said predetermined amount of current has been integrated. In thearrangement illustrated, power from the meter driven `shaft 100, istransmitted to shaft 101,

- through reduction gearing comprising pinions 102 and 103, and theircoacting gears 104 and 105. The shaft 101 is fixed at 101a so that gear105 is at all times in mesh with pinion 103. When the various elementsare in the position shown, movement of the shaft 101 is transmitted toshaft 106 through gear 107, pinion 108, and gear 109. Shaft 106 isprovided with a pinion 110, which meshesrwith a notched gear 111,mounted upon shiftable shaft 112. This gear 111 conforms to the notchedgear 31 of the device illustrated in Figs. 1Ato 6 inclusive. Shaft 106is also provided with a disk 113, adapted to mesh with the gear 114,mounted upon fixed shaft 115, which'carries a commutator 116, conformingto the commutator 36 of the device hereinbefore described. A commutatordevice 117, ratchet 118 and solenoid 119 are similar to and operateprecisely as do the corresponding parts shown in connection with thedevices illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

When in the operation ofthe device illustrated in Fig. `7 apredetermined amount of electricity has been integrated, and the notchofgear 111 has been driveninto register with pinion 110, the spring 120,shifts the left hand end of shafts 101 and'106, thus drawing pinion 113out of mesh with gear 114, of shaft 115, and driving the relatively,

large gear 121 mounted upon shaft 101 into mesh with pinion 122 o-f theshaft 115. Owin to the gear ratios rotation of the shaft 115 after theshifting of shafts 101 vice which integrates in itself and registersl ata predetermined rate for a first quantity of electricity, and at ahigher rate after the predetermined quantity has been integrated.

While l have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of myinvention in connection with an electricity metering system it will beunderstood that my invention is.

not limited to such use. claims the word fluid has been employed todesignate broadly electricity and any gas or liquid capable of beingmetered.

Vhile I rhave illustrated in my invention in the particular embodimentstherein shown and described, vI do not wish to be limited to theseparticular constructions but desire to -claim any equivalents thereofVwhich may Iii/the appendedl suggest themselves to those skilled in theart.

What I claim is: 1. Variable rate metering mechanism comprising a shaftdriven at a rate proportional to the consumption of the liuid to beintegrated, indicating devices, transmission mechanism whereby saidindicating devices are driven at a certain speed proportional to thespeed at which said shaft is driven until a certain pre-determinedamount ,of fluid has been integrated, and means operated by thetransmission mechanism arranged and adapted to connect said shaft andindicating devices at a different ratio to drive the indicatingl devicesat a different speed proportional to the speed at which said shaft isdriven after said pre-determined amount of iuid has been integrated.

2. Variable rate meteringmechanism comprising an indicating` device, ashaft driven by the iuid to be integrated, connections between saidshaft and said device including a secondv shaft, a driven gear looselymounted on said second shaft, a second gear and ratchet wheel rigidlymounted on said second shaft, a pawl carried by said loosely mountedgear normally engaging said ratchet wheel, gearing normally interposedbetween said loosely mounted gear and said second gear, and meansoperatively connected with said first mentioned shaft for disengagingsaid last mentioned gearing from the pair of gears cooperating therewithwhen a pre-determined quantity of liuid has been integrated.

3. Variable rate metering mechanism comprising an indicating device, ashaft driven by the fluid to be integrated, connections between said`shaft and said device comprising a gear train including a second shaft,a loosely mounted driven gear on said shaft, a ratchet wheel and asecond gear rigidly mounted on said second shaft, a pawl carried by saidloosely mounted gear normally engaging said ratchet wheel, a shiftableshaft normally disposed parallel to said second shaft, gears mounted onsaid shiftable shaft normally engaging thev gears of said second shaft,a pinion on said shiftable shaft, a second shiftable shaft, ay notchedgear mounted thereon meshing with said pinion, and means adapted toshift the first shiftable shaft when the notched gear has been rotatedto a predetermined position.

V4f. Variable rate metering apparatus comprising a shaft driven by theiuid to be integrated, anindicating device, transmission Amechanismbetween said shaft and the indicating device, and devices operated bysaid transmission mechanism whereby said indicating device is connectedwith said first mentioned shaft in a different ratio when apre-determined amount of fluid has been integrated. f

5. Variable rate metering mechanism comprising a. shaft driven by theiuid to be measured,- an indicating device, transmission mechanisminterposed between the shaftl and the indicating device whereby theindicating device is driven at a certain rate proportional to the rateof operation of said shaft, a setting member mechanically connected withsaid transmission mechanism and driven therefrom, and mechanismautomatically operable to connect the indicating device with said shaftin a different ratio when the setting member `has been driven to apre-determined position.

(3. Variable rate metering mechanism comprising a shaft driven by thefluid to be measured, an indicating device, transmission mechanisminterposed between the shaft and the indicating device whereby theindicating device is driven at a certain rate proportional to the rateof rotation of said shaft, said transmission mechanism comprising ashiftable shaft, a pinion mounted on said shiftable shaft, a notchedgear adapted to mesh with said pinion, means for setting said notch withrespect to said pinion, and means arranged to shift said shiftable shaftwhen said gear is rotated to a position such that said notch is adjacentsaid pinion.

7 Variable rate metering mechanism comprising a shaft, a gear wheeldriven at a rate proportional to the fiuid to be integrated looselymountedon said shaft, a

ratchet wheel disposed adjacent the gear wheel and nonrotatable on theshaft, a pawl carried by the gear wheel riding on the ratchet wheel, asecond gear wheel non-rotatable on said shaft, a shiftable shaft, gearwheels non-rotatable on said shiftable shaft arranged to mesh with thegears of the first shaft when the shiftable shaft is in one of itspositions, said first shaft being driven through the pawl and ratchetfrom the loosely mounted gear when the gear wheels of the shiftableshaft are not in mesh with the gear wheels of the first shaft, andthrough the gear wheels of the shiftable shaft when the latter gearwheels are in mesh with the gear wheels of the first shaft.

8. Variable rate'metering mechanism comprising a shaft, a gear wheelloosely mounted on the shaft driven from the rotating element of ameter, Ia ratchet wheel non-rotatable on the shaft, a pawl carried bysaid gear wheel riding on said ratchet wheel, a second gear wheelnon-rotatable on the shaft, shiftable gearing normally interposedbetween saidfgear wheels, a setting wheel normally retaining theshiftable gearing in operative position, said setting wheel being drivenfrom said shiftable gearing, and a device adapted to move said shiftablegearing from operative position when a predetermined amount of actuationof the setting wheel-has been effected.

9. A variable rate metering mechanism comprising in combination a shaftdriven at a rate proportional to the consumption of the fluid to bemetered, an indicating device,

' metered whereby transmission gearing normally operatively connectingsaid shaft and indicating device, and mechanism controlled from saidshaft arranged to connect said shaft lwith the indicating device in adifferent ratioafter a predetermined quantity of fluid has been metered.

10. A variable rate metering mechanism comprising in combination amember driven from the movable element of a meter at a rate proportionalyto the consumption of the metered fluid, an indicating device, meansadapted to connect the said member with theindicating device whereby theindicating device is driven from said member at a certain rateproportional to the rate of operation of said member, and mechanismcontrolled from sai-d member arranged to establish a differentconnection between said member and the indicating device after apredetermined amount of fluid has been the indicating device isthereafter driven at a dierent rate proportional to the rate ofoperation of said element. A

11. A variable rate metering mechanism,

comprising in combination a member adapted to be driven at a rateproportional to the consumption of the fluid to be metered, anindicating device, mechanism normally connecting the indicating deviceWith said member whereby the indicating device is driven at a certainrate proportional to the rate of operation of said member, mechanismarranged to establish a different connection between said member and theindicating device after a pre-determined amount of fluid has beenmetered, a device driven from said member arranged when moved to acertain position to permit the operation of said last mentionedmechanism, and means for manually setting said devicelto change theconnections after-:any desired quantity of fluid has been metered.

In witness whereof, I hereunto my name this 7th day of January, 1913.

subscribe GEORGE H. MYRICK.

Witnesses:

LEONARD E. Bosma, LESLIE W. FRICKE.

